Steven Schumacher is glad to see his players happy in their work as they gear up for a big run of games, writes Pete Oliver.
Three weeks into his reign as Wanderers’ Head Coach, Schumacher has helped lift the mood and overseen back-to-back league wins since getting his feet fully under the table.
The Whites’ squad has responded positively to the new boss and Schumacher sees good signs on the training ground with Saturday’s visit of in-form Leyton Orient kicking off a run of three successive matches against top-six sides.
“The players look as though they’re enjoying what they're doing,” said Schumacher. “Even in training, there's been a really good atmosphere. It's been dead competitive. Someone keeps getting kicked every game in training, but that's what I want.
“I like to train with an intensity and for them to be committed and going at it properly. We like to train the way we try and play, so it seems like the players are enjoying it. They are playing with a smile on their face.
“They should be confident going into this league game as well. We’ve spoken a lot about Leyton Orient, but we’ve won four out of five as well, so bring it on.”
Wanderers’ winning run has put them within three points of the play-off places, with Orient currently occupying the final top-six spot after their mid-week win at promotion hopefuls Wrexham made it five wins out of six in League One.
Richie Wellens’ side – beaten by Wanderers on the opening day of the campaign – has lost just twice in the league since the end of October to shoot up the table.
But Wanderers know they will be level on points with the O’s if they can produce a ninth home league win of the season before facing Wrexham and leaders Birmingham City.
“We've got a tough run of fixtures coming up, starting on Saturday, so we need to make sure that we're fully prepared and ready for it,” added Schumacher, who will have captain George Thomason available following suspension.
“It should be a good game and one I'm looking forward to. I've known Richie for a long time – we did our pro licences together. It will be two teams going at it, playing the right way, trying to win. That should lend itself to be another exciting encounter.
“We know what their strengths are. They've got some really good forward players, they play good football, they have lots of good rotation and movement, so we have to be prepared for that and try and exploit their weaknesses where we can.
“They will be one of the sides where I expect, especially if they keep this momentum going that they're on at the moment, that will be in there, in and around the play-off mix, so it's a huge game, we can't hide away from that.
“We know we need to get a result from it and we want to try and get three points. We’re at home, so we’ll try and take the initiative and not make it easy for them to come here and play, and, when we have the ball, cause them a problem when we can.”
Wanderers will check on defender Gethin Jones, who missed the early part of the week’s training with a sore rib picked up at Shrewsbury when the Whites again came from behind to take maximum points.
Goalscorer Eoin Toal was also feeling the effects of a run of games since returning from injury but should be fit to face the O's, while forward Carlos Mendes Gomes is back in training and expected to play a role before the end of the campaign.
Watch the head coach's full pre-match interview on Wanderers TV